A Debt Owed(16)

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” he says as he takes another sip. “It’s exactly why I wanted it built here.”

“I have to say I am impressed,” I say. I never imagined him building a company, let alone something this huge and gorgeous.

He stares into the distance. “Whenever I need to take a breather, I come up here.”

“It’s a great place to spend time alone,” I say, and I lean my back against the balcony while looking at him.

He glances at me over his shoulder, and that one look has me feeling weak to the bone. I don’t know what it is about him that makes me feel this way. “I never thought I’d bump into you here.”

“Yet here I am,” I reply, taking a sip of my drink.

“Strange … but nice too.” He sets my soul on fire with that killer smile. Stepping away from the edge again, he takes another sip of his drink. “So tell me what brought you here.”

“Ahh …” I gaze down at my feet. “My father. You know how he is …”

“Unfortunately, yes,” he says.

“I’m sorry for how he treated you back then,” I say, licking my lips. “And I was a bitch for ignoring you.”

A lopsided grin spreads on his lips, and he holds up his hand. “Your father was harsh on you.”

“Still is,” I say, sighing as I put down my drink. “Sorry, TMI, I know.”

“You feel choked around him.”

“Exactly!” I say. It feels as if he can read my thoughts. “And the worst part is that he wants me to help him, but I don’t think I can.”

“How?” he asks.

“He wants me to marry some rich stranger so he can save his company …”

“Hmm …” He rubs his chin, and mutters, “Interesting.”

“Not really. I just shouted at him and ran off. He’s probably still fuming.” I cross my arms over my chest. “But I don’t care.”

“Sounds like you do,” he jests, making me side-eye him.

“You’re still as obnoxious as you were at my father’s wedding.”

“Have you looked in the mirror recently?” he retorts, making me laugh. He takes the last sip from his glass. “So tell me why you followed me.”

“No reason. To apologize for my father and my behavior, I suppose. But that was it.”

“Really?” He raises a brow. “Weren’t you just a little bit captivated with the idea of me owning all these businesses?” He steps closer. “You think now that you’ve apologized, I’ll forgive you?” I swallow away the lump in my throat. He’s so close I can feel his breath on my skin. “It’ll take a lot more groveling for me to forget how you treated me.”

I’m mortified. “But I just … my father …” I’m frozen to my spot because of his closeness, and I can’t even think straight, let alone speak properly.

“Now that I’ve built up all these businesses and accumulated some wealth, you think I’m suddenly good enough to talk to?” he sneers.

Where does this sudden hostility come from? “I never said you weren’t—”

“You ignored me and let your father have his way,” he growls. “If you’d stopped him, maybe my father would’ve …”

His father? What does his father have to do with it? All I know is that his father worked for my father as a chef at one of his restaurants, and then he suddenly didn’t anymore, but my father never lets me in on his business.

Easton’s nostrils flare, and he takes a deep breath. “Leave. Just go.”

I suck on my bottom lip and shake my head. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to be such an asshole, but my father gave me no choice.”

He smacks the glass from my hand, and it drops to the floor, shattering into a million pieces.

“GO!” His sudden outburst has me fleeing from the balcony, rushing all the way down the stairs and out of the club.

I don’t know what made him turn on me like that. Why, one minute, it’s as if he wants to rekindle whatever it is we had, and then the next, he wants to put me to shame.

But it’s too late to apologize. I’m not coming back here ever again.



Easton

A few days later



I’d purposely opened my business in several cities around the world and specifically here because I knew this was where her parents lived. I’d looked that up a long time ago. Never did I imagine I’d run into her at one of my clubs, but it made for a good surprise.

Though, I’m not sure I was truly happy to see her. After all, she broke my heart in several ways, and her father is a heartless monster. Those dollar bills that pompous idiot is sniffing right now are dipped in blood.

My blood.

And I will make him pay for what he did.

One way or another, he will beg me for mercy. And I know just the way.

Her disclosure that his company is in trouble and needs financial investors is the perfect entry for me. It’s as if she knew I was in my darkest hour and offered her sweet, ripe cherry in return.

I could give her father a loan and make him pay by taking her.

Charlotte Davis. My wife. My pet.

A wicked grin spreads across my lips. It’s almost too good to be true, but it’s the best idea I’ve ever had. The best idea she’s ever given me.